Former W.A.S.P. Guitarist CHRIS HOLMES Talks Religion – "I Can't Touch God, So I Don't Believe In Him; He Never Answered My Prayers"

Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes is featured in a new interview with Dimitri de Larocque at France-based Tête-À-Tête, conducted last month shortly after the Paris terrorist attacks. He offers his thoughts on terrorism, his life as a metal artist, religion, and his reasons for relocating from the US to France. 

On his new solo album Shitting Bricks which was released in May:

“Shitting Bricks I did it all myself. From working on the first solo album with Phil Taylor (ex-Motörhead) I learned how to program drums. I wrote the songs as I went, let it sit and work some more. Feedback has been good.”

On his opinion on death metal:

“I went out last night and saw some groups, there is this new thing called death metal. I couldn’t understand a damn word they sang. I had to ask all the singers are you singing in English or French. It tripped me out. They scream, real loud as hard as they can real low. I’ve never really seen it. I was in the washroom and the guitar player I play with came in and goes what are you doing, how you can sit there and watch this. I said, well I learn what not to do.”

On his time in W.A.S.P. in the beginning and relationship with Blackie Lawless:

“It seemed like it was all for one, one for all, everybody worked to the same goals. But deep down inside Blackie had his means of controlling everything and being the only guy, so that’s what he always wanted to do. He doesn’t want to work with other people. It’s obvious on the second album, The Last Command, he’s on the cover. And it’s all about him him him. I never heard from Blackie, hey Chris you did a good job. I always heard about how terrible I played. You want to know the honest thing about it, Blackie he was jealous of me.”

Asked about the what pain he was covering up by drinking during The Decline Of Western Civilization:

“First I think I was drinking cause I was an alcoholic. And it was also being in W.A.S.P. being treated the way I was being treated all the time. You got to understand if somebody uses reverse psychology on you to hold you down so you don’t shine like they do. I was always held down all the time, anything I did I was always in trouble and you get tired of that.  Every bad thing that happened to W.A.S.P. was my fault, which most of the time it wasn’t.”

On his memories of Randy Rhoads and Ozzy Osbourne audition:

“Randy wore polka dots and bow ties. He was always a cool guy. A lot of my friends were his students. Randy was good but once he hooked up with Ozzy, that was it . It was a good combination. I auditioned that night when Ozzy saw Quiet Riot play. I went down to the studio, Dana Strum was driving Ozzy around finding musicians and I was one of them. And I auditioned Friday night at 8 o’clock up at the studio and as Ozzy came in I played some guitar, then he and Strum went to see Quiet Riot that night and Ozzy took him the next day.”